The Hollister Police Department has been awarded a $51,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to provide special enforcement and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries in the community. 

The department will use the year-long funding as part of the city’s effort to keep roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education. 

“This grant provides us with the added resources we need as we continue our efforts to make the roadways safe for travelers and the residents of this community,” said Lieutenant Eric Olson. 

After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions saw slight increases in 2011 and 2012. Particularly worrisome, police say, are recent increases in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities and the dangers of distracting technologies. This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk and drugged driving and speeding. 

“California’s roadways are still among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “But to meet future mobility, safety, and sustainability objectives, we must create safer roadways for all users. The Hollister Police Department will be using these and other resources to reach the vision we all share – Toward zero deaths, every one counts.” 

Activities that the grant will fund include: 
• Educational presentations 
• DUI checkpoints 
• DUI saturation patrols 
• Motorcycle safety enforcement 
• Distracted driving enforcement 
• Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement 
• Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement 
• Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders 

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.